Alex Anthopoulos’s biggest deals
Alex Anthopoulos has been busy in his two-plus years as Blue Jays GM. Here’s a look at his biggest transactions: TRADING HALLADAY Dec. 16, 2009
It was the first significant trade Anthopoulos orchestrated as Blue Jays GM and it remains one of the most important: franchise pitcher Roy Halladay dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies for prospects Kyle Drabek, Travis d’arnaud and Michael Taylor. Though his trading partners were limited, Anthopoulos was able to get his hands on top prospects Drabek and d’arnaud to improve the organization’s depth. LEAGUE FOR MORROW Dec. 23, 2009 A week after the Halladay trade, Anthopoulos dealt reliever Brandon League to the Seattle Mariners for RHP Brandon Morrow. League has gone on to become an all-star closer for the Mariners, but Morrow, who had one of the highest strikeout rates in the league last season, could figure to be the Jays’ no. 2 starter behind Romero for years to come. GETTING GOSE July 29, 2010 Anthopoulos wanted Anthony Gose, a speedy centre-field prospect, as part of the Halladay trade, but the Phillies would not give him up. Six months later they traded him to Houston to get pitcher Roy Oswalt, and the Jays jumped on the opportunity, flipping high-ranking 1B prospect Brett Wallace to the Astros. Gose, among the top prospects in the league, won’t make the Jays this season but will one day captain the outfield. SIGNING HECHAVARRIA April 13, 2010
High-ranking Cuban prospect Adeiny Hechavarria has yet to play in the big leagues, but praise for the 22year-old shortstop’s defensive abilities are effusive. “Future Gold Glover” is bandied about a fair bit. It remains to be seen what kind of impact he’ll have on the Blue Jays, but the team was impressed enough to sign the 22year-old to a $10 million (all figures U.S.) contract and he remains Anthopoulous’s biggest international signing. LOCKING UP ROMERO Aug. 14, 2010
Partway through his rookie season,
Anthopoulos made LHP Ricky Romero a mainstay of the Blue Jays’ rotation by signing the team’s ace to a club-friendly five-year, $30.1 million contract with a club option in the sixth year. If Romero continues his development into an elite major-league starter, the deal will look even better.
MARCUM FOR LAWRIE
Dec. 6, 2010
Jays trade RHP Shaun Marcum to the Brewers for 3B prospect Brett Lawrie. Marcum was the Jays’ ace at the time, but Lawrie — who in only 150 at-bats last season showed the potential of a dominant major-leaguer — looks to be a cornerstone of the franchise.
DUMPING WELLS’ CONTRACT
Jan. 21, 2011
Vernon Wells is not a lock to be an everyday outfielder for the Angels this year, but the club will be paying him $63 million for the next three seasons regardless. Jays got C Mike Napoli and OF Juan Rivera in return. Napoli was then traded to Texas where he hit 30 HRS and was a clutch playoff performer. Missing Napoli’s potential is a mark against AA, but the players he got in return for getting rid of Wells’s contract were only ever icing anyway.
LOCKING UP BAUTISTA
Feb. 17, 2011
Anthopoulos signs home run king Jose Bautista to a five-year, $64 million contract. He only had one home-run crown at the time, but he responded in 2011with another 43 jacks. Bautista will be paid $14 million in each of the next four seasons. By comparison, Prince Fielder, who finished behind Bautista in almost every batting category and is weaker defensively, will be paid $118 million over the next five years (and $214 million over the next nine).
RASMUS FROM CARDINALS
July 27, 2011 Blue Jays trade RHP Edwin Jackson, relievers Octavio Dotel, Marc Rzepcynski and outfielder Corey Patterson to the St. Louis Cardinals for CF Colby Rasmus and pitchers Brian Tallet, Trevor Miller and P.J. Walters. The Cardi- nals went on to win the World Series in 2011, while Rasmus has yet to reach his potential. The jury is still out.
OVERHAULING BULLPEN
2011 offseason The Blue Jays bullpen was among the weakest in the league in 2011 and Anthopoulos set out to remake it this offseason, trading for hard-throwing closer Sergio Santos, and signing veteran relievers Francisco Cordero and Darren Oliver. Cordero actually had more saves than Santos last season, but will work as setup man. While Oliver will be used as a situational lefty. The roles are more strictly defined; time will tell whether it translates into fewer blown saves.